Latching mechanism for closures



Slept. 25, 1951 w. A. ENDTER LATCHING MECHANISM FOR cLosuREs 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 26, 1946 @a wmf. 9m,

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Mzprup/lrpzp INVENroR. zum( Q2-zwaar? Sept. 2,5, 1951 w. A. ENDTER 2,569,045

LATCHIN MECHANISM FOR CLOSURES Filed Oct. 26. 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hrra/P/sa-f Patented Sept. 25, 71951 LATCHI'NG MECHANISM FOR CLOSURES Waldemar A. Endter, Long Beach, Calif.

Application Qctober 26, 1946, Serial No. 705,843

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in latch mechanisms of a typeparticularly suited for the latching of automobile doors, although otherwise useable for such purposes as may be served by the structural and operating characteristics of the invention.

As in the case of other latch mechanisms, the invention employs the general combination of a holding means carried by a stationary member, e. g. door pillar, and cooperating elements of the mechanisms carried by the closure or door and controllable by inside and outside operators to disengage the parts from latched association. Ordinarily the pillar carries a stationary keeper engageable by a movable bolt on the closure to latch the latter, the bolt being releasable, or relieved of latching pressure, to permit its disengagement from the keeper,

The invention dilers in one respect from the indicated conventional arrangement, in that it provides for mounting on the closure a keeper, or part having essentially the functions of a keeper, in a manner such that the keeper is movable into and out of latched association with the pillar-carried holding means. At the outset it may be observed that the invention broadly contemplates the use of any of various specic forms of pillar-carried holding means with relation to which the keeper is movable into and out of latched condition. Desirably, however, such holding means comprises a movable bolt, preferably of a spring-urged swinging or pivoted type, capable in latched condition of exerting a thrust or closing force against the keeper, and therefore against the closure.

` More specically, the invention aims to mount the keeper in a manner permitting its movement from a normal or open position in which the keeper is conditioned for reception of the bolt, to a latched position in which it in effect closes behind the bolt and thereby enables the latter not only to hold the closure against opening, but also to exert constant closing pressure against the door.

- In this connection the invention contemplates the use, in conjunction with the keeper, of a movable holding or blocking part, capable of retaining the bolt-engaged keeper in latched condition until the blocking part is intentionally released to free the keeper.

Aiurther feature of the invention is the provision of means, specically in the form of a swinging setting lever or arm, engageable with the l ing) into latched association therewith, the setting lever being characterized by its capacity for movement with the keeper in one direction, and

for relative movement in an opposite direction, as

and for the purposes later explained.

Another object is the provision of spring-- urged means for positively opening the closure immediately upon release of the keeper. As will appear, both the keeper and setting lever may bev spring urged so that when the keeper becomes disengageable from the bolt, they will act sequentially to thrust the closure in an openingr direction.

The invention is further advantageous in thatv it affords a latch mechanism particularly adaptable for actuation by a push button type of con--I trol or operator carried by the closure. AS will` appear, in addition to its capacity for release by an appropriate inside operator and for locking by an inside push button, the keeper is associated with an outside push button operator for release from the bolt and conditioning of the spring means acting to open the closure.

For more complete understanding of the in.-

vention in all its aspects and details, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings illustrative of a typical embodiment, and in which:

. Fig. 1 is 'a vertical section through the door at the inside of the latch mechanism taken on line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1 as viewed from` the right or outside of the door;

Fig. 3 is a view taken in the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2 lbut showing certain of both the pillar and door carried parts in section and in anfinitial Figs. 10 and ll are side edge views respec-V tively of the setting lever;

Figs. 12 and `13 are side and' edge views, re-k spectively, of the door-carried keeper;

Figs. 14 and 15 are edge and side views, respectively, of the pillar carried bolt; Figs. 16 and 17 are side and edge vlews,"re spectively, of the keeper-carried latchelement;

Figs. 18 and 19 are side and edge views respectively, of the push button control locking lever; Y Y

Fig. 20 is an inside elevation of the pillarcarried bolt and its mounting; and

Fig. 21 is a section on line 2I-2I of Fig. 20.

As typically embodied in an automobile door latch mechanism, the invention is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and '7 to be associated with a swinging door I of usual sheet metal construction, and a stationary door pillar II opposite the free edge a of the door and against which the door closes, as ordinarily by engagement Vwith the usual pillar-carried cushion, not' shown. As previously indicated, the invention contemplates the provision on the pillar` II of a latch part generally indicated at I2, see Figs. 3 to. 6, and preferably in the form of a movable bolt, interengageable with a movable element or keeper part gener.-

ally indicated at I3, carried by the door and controllable with respect to its releasability from the bolt, by the later described inside and outside operators.

, Ilfhe draw/ings show the pillar carried portion of the mechanism to comprise, see'Fig'. 1, a housing I4,` attached to the pillar about and conlriinga plate I5 carrying shaft I6 which termi'nates at' I1 withinA the cuter wan of the housing. The shaft I6'carries 'a swinging latch elernent I8, which may be regarded as a bolt, projecting upwardly through opening I9 in the top of the housing. Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, the bolt has 'above its safety catch shoulder 29 a curved keeper engaging surface 2|, and an outer curved face 22 engageable against the keeper in the latched condition of the parts, as willlater appear. The bolt recess 23 accommodates a, spring 24 turned about the shaft I6, one end4 ofA the spring bearing at 25 against the hofl'sin'g, withthe other end of the spring bearing against the bolt shoulder 26 to urge the bolt infits' 'normal or up position shown in Fig. 3.

p Considering now the door carried mechanisms, the' parts more directly associated with the pillar carried bolt are shown to be mounted on a plate 21 applied to the edge face I0a of thev door and suitably attached thereto as by screws 32 and the outwardly bent plate ears 28 inserted through openings n"the door metal. Plate 21 has an integrally formed housing 29 open at its bottom and supporting 'the shafts 3 0 and 3I. Spaced below the housing 29 isa horizontally extending lug 33 which like the housing may be formedv integrally with the plate 21. The lug is shown t`7'contain openings for the reception of screws 3 4 attached to the' door.y

'Ir'he' housing 29 contains a movable element 35 cooperating with the bolt I8 to serve essentially the functions of a keeper in the sense lthat the latter is displaceable into confining relation with 4the bolt" to retain the latter in latched condition. The keeper 35 is shown to consist of a lever mountedufor' oscillation on the shaft 3D and normally, i. e. in the open condition of the latch, engaged at 36 against the housing 29 by the thrust of a relatively strong spring 31 supported on shaft 3| and bearing against the keeper Within its notched portion 35a. lReferring to Figs. 12 and 13, the keeper has a curved face 38, a straightV edge 39 engageable by the later described blocking arm, and a depending extension or arm 40 positioned for engagement with the bolt housing I4.

Also mounted for oscillation on the shaft 30 is a setting lever 4I, see Figs. 10 and 11, the upper. portion of which is'notched at 42 to rec eive the turned end of spring 43 carried about the shaft and having its opposite end engagedat 44 against the bottom edge of the housing. Spring 43 is a relatively weak spring resisting clockwise rotation of the setting lever and no1'- mally maintaining the latter engaged against the housing as shown in Fig. 3. Lever 4I has a depending arm portion 45 carrying a roller 46 to be engaged by the bolt housing I4, as and for the purposes later explained.

The keeper 35 carries a pin 41 on which is pivoted a locking element 49, see Figs. 16 and 17,'normally engaged against surface 49 of the setting lever by spring 59 carried by the pin 41 and bearing against the element-carried lug 5I. As best illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the element 48 has a projection 52 engageable, as the keeper 35 is swung downward, against a stationary projection 53 on the plate 21, to retract the locking element from the path of the setting lever surface 54, and bring the element to a position in which it rides the setting lever surface 55.

YThe dogging or blocking arm 56, mounted for oscillation' on shaft 3l, has three extensions 51, 53 and 59, the former of which carries in-turnedA lug 68 projecting through opening 6I in the plate 21, the arm portion 59 similarly carrying a tev1'.` minal lug 62 projecting inwardly through opening 6 3 in the plate. Registering openings are provided in the end Illa of the door to allow lugs 69 and 62 to project into the door. Counter-` clockwise rotation of the arm as viewed inK Fig. 3, is resisted by a spring 64 carriedv by they shaft 3l` and bearing against the outwardlyv turned lug 65 carried by the arm portion 58f illustrated in Fig. 6, the lug 65 is engageable against the keeper surface 39 to block anti-4 latchingr or bolt releasing rotation of the keeper. in all latched positions vof the parts and the blocking arm 56 is intentionally retracted.

Provision is made for retracting varm 56 from blocking association with the keeper, byk appropriate door-carried inside and outside operators.

and also by the usual inside push button. While broadly considered, the outside operator may of any suitable type capable of transmitting reI leasing movement tothe blocking arm 56, I es pecially 'adapt the Amechanism to the use of a. push buttc'nt'ype outside operator as generally* indicatedv at 61. Since as such, various forms., of plsh'butt'on operators are known, itl will suf-' ifcetor illustrate' the control 61 as comprising au cylindrical husing es suitably attached to nhg, door, as by 'screws 69 inserted through the end;` I Ilz, and containing the push button proper 1,07, in the .form of' a core1I whose inward axial3 movement is resisted by a coil spring 12. The core 1I may contain the usual key operated tumbler cylinder 13 for. locking the core against in vgard displacement. The inner end -1Ia of the.. push'button core projects through the housing 68 to engage the blocking arm lug 62, so that as thecpre is pushed inward, assuming the keeper 3.5.-.'139. be locked in latching position by its engagement with lug 6 5, the arm 56 is swung to release lug 65 from the keeper and thereby per.. mtrestoration ofl the latter to its open or. normal lno sitionof Fig. 3.

`Referring to Figs. l and 2, the inside operator. generally indicated at 14 is shown to comprise 'theusual strap 15 to be actuated by the inside door handle, and pivotally connectedat 16,to lever 11 which oseillateson pin 18 carryingl a coil spring 19. bearing` against the armcarried lug to resist keeper retracting movement of the arm. The latter has anextension 8I, see Fig.Y 1, engageable with lug V6l! on ex;

tension 51 of the blocking arm Vto swing the -latter in a manner releasing lug 65 from blockingrelation with the keeper 35, to the same eifect accomplished by actuation of the outside push button operator. v

The usual push button rod 82 is connectedY with a locking dog 83 pivoted on pin-84 and having its lower notched end 85 movable into and out of the path of lug 50. Fig. 1 shows the dog 83 in locking position in which it overlies the lug to block keeper releasingrotation of the arm 56, and thus locking the latch mechanism (specically the keeper) against release by either the inside or outside operators. As will be understood, upward movement of the push button rod 82 swings the locking dog out of the pathof lug- 60 to permit latch releasing movement of the arm 56.

In considering the operation ofthe described mechanisms, assume the door-carried parts to be positioned as shown in Fig. 3,V with the door moving in a closing direction to bring the setting arm roller 46 into engagement with the bolt housing I4. As the door closes further to a position corresponding to Fig. 4, housing I4 engages the top surface of lug33 for formation of a dove tail relation of the parts by virtue-of the subsequent bolt movement into thekeeper. As the setting lever is swung clockwise by its engagement against` housing I4, the` lever rotation is transmitted to the keeper 35 by the engagement of the lever surface 54 against the end of the locking element 48. The resultant downward swinging of the keeper brings its curved surface 38 into the path of the bolt as Fig. 4 illustrates. e

Continued swinging movement of the keeper brings the locking element projection 52 into engagement with the stationary projection 53 to effect progressive retraction of the element out of the path of the setting lever surface 54 so that upon its rotational progression slightly beyond the position of Fig. 5, the setting lever is freed for clockwise movement relative to and ahead of the keeper, ultimately to the home position of Fig. 6. Upon reaching its Fig. 5 position, the keeper will have become rotated -to bring its surface 38 below the blocking arm lug` 65, whereupon the latter rotates clockwise into the path of the keeper surface 38, with the re- 50 sult that releasing or anti-latching rotation of the keeper is positively blocked. As the downswinging keeper advances against and deects the bolt, portion 86 of the bolt will come into position back of the keeper surface 81 to assume a safety catch position beyond but in the f path of the keeper, so that the keeper thereafter, in the looked position of Fig. 5, is engageable by the bolt shoulder 20 to prevent opening movement of the door.

As the door closes beyond the positioncorresponding to Fig. 5 -to the home position of Fig. 6, the setting lever 4I is swung independently of the keeper to the location shown. During its course of travel from Fig. 5 to Fig. 6, the bolt i8 underrides the lower corner of the keeper and is thrust by the spring 24 against the curved keeper surface 81 to exert against the keeper a thrust urging the door to fully closed position,

When the door is to be opened by actuation of either the outside or inside door operator lll and 14, arm 56 is swung counter-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 3 to 6, releasing lug 85 from the path of. the keeper surface 39. As a consequence of the keeper thus being freed for counterclockwise ro; 7

tation,.the.keeper arm All-is thrust by thea'c-f tionof the relatively strong spring 31 against thebolt housing- I4 to initiate opening movement of the door,` which movement under-the influence lof 5 the keeper continues throughout the course of.

engagement of its arm against the bolt housing.

Simultaneously, the setting lever arm 45 exertsl by the action of spring 43 a door opening thrust against the bolt housing. which by virtue of the 10 extent of arm 45, continues beyond the effectiveness of the keeper arm 4U, to move the keeper from engagement with the bolt and to relative positions of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3;' v

I claim: I

-v 1. A latch mechanism applicable to a station--Y ary support and a movable closure, comprising a. pivotally movable holding element to be carried by lsaid closure, a rst bearing member to be.

carried by the closure and having a bearing surface in opposed and spaced relation to saidhold-V ing element, a swinging rbolt element and a second bearing member both to be carried by said support with the bolt position in the path of said= holding element so that the holding element is engageable against a forward face of the bolt to deflect the bolt and a rear face of the bolt is4 thereafter engageable against the holding ele-` ment to retain it in latched position, saidbolt and second bearing member being adapted during closing movement of the closure to be broughtV between said holding element and first bearing member with said second bearing member engag-v ing the first bearing member, means urging the bolt element against the holding element in its,l latched position, one of said elements having a cam surface engageable by Ithe other elementin the latched position of the elements in response to the thrust of the bolt against the holding eleset relation to the bolt, means operable by virtue of closing movement of said closure to overcome the retaining means and swing said holding ele- .,5 ment toward the bolt so that the holding element and bolt interengage in latched relation and the bolt thrust against the holding element presses said bearing members one against the other, means maintaining the holding element in` said latched position, and means for releasing said holding element to permit opening movement ofthe closure.

2. A latch mechanism applicable to a stationary support and a movable closure, comprising a pivotally movable holding element to be carried by said closure, a bearing member to be carried by the closure vand having a bearing surface in opposed and spaced relation to said holding cle-` ment, a swinging bol-t element and a housing containing the bolt both to be carried by said support with the bolt positioned in the path of Asaid holding element so that the holding element is f engageable against a forward face of the bolt to deflect the bolt and a rear face of the bolt is therefore engageable against the holding element tomv retain it in latched position, said bolt element and @engaging the bearing member, means urging thev bolt elementagainst the holding element in its said latched position, one of said elements having a cam surface engageable by the other ele-'1 ment in the latched position of the elements and y 5vacting in response tov the thrust of the boltagainst. the .holdingelement to elfect. .takeeun ImlveinentL of thelosuretowardthe stationary.

mgmben retillng means. initially. maintaining. Said .holding element. inA a position offset. relative.

to. thebolt means .operableby virtue enclosing.

mpvement of said closure Vtoovercome thek retain:` ing means .and Vswingsaid -fholding element.. to;-L

Ward the. bolt so. .that the holding elementand. b olt nterengage in .latched relation andV the bolt,

thrust againstthe holding .element presses -said housing against the bearing .memben means. maintaining .the holding element in saidlatched position, and means. for releasing said holdingl element to permit opening movement or the clo- Sure.

pirotally. movable holding elementtobe carried bysaid closure, a rst vbearingmember. to. be.,car..A ried by. theY .closure and hayinga bearingsure.

face in opposed and spacedurelatlon tosaidholde. ing.4 element, a swinging boltelement .and ,a.sec, ond bearing member bothto be. carried by said;

support with, the bolt. positioned .in the .path of said holding elementso ,that the holding element` is engageableagainst a forward. face ofthe boltv to, deflect the bolt anda rear face of the. boltisthereafter ,engageablelagainst the. holding eles.,

ment toy retain it in latched position,.said.bolt element and housing.` being adapted during clos.-n ing movement of the. closure to..be brought bee.

tween said holding element and rst bearing. member with said. second bearing member.v

engaging the rst bearing.r member, means urging the bolt element` againv the. holding element in its` said latched. position, one of saidelements'rhaving a cam surface engagezable byV the other element and acting in re-V elementtoward the boltin advance of completeclosing movement of the closure so that the bolt rst engages and is deflectedin an antilatching direction by the holding part and the bolt-thereed after is thrust into latched engagement with the` holding part, the bolt thrust then pressing-saidL bearing members one against the other, meansmaintaining` therholding element in said latched position, and meansf or releasing said holding element to permit opening movement of the closure.

4. A latch mechanism applicable to astationaryv support and a movable closure, comprising a plvotally 4movable holding element to be carried by said closure, a bearing member to be carriedl by the closure and having a bearingsurfaoe in op posed and spaced relation to. said holding element, a swinging bolt element and a housingcontaining the bolt both to be carried by saidisupport with the bolt positioned in the path of saidf holding element so that the holding element is engageable against a forward face o fthe bolt to deect the bolt and a rear faee of the bolt isthereafter engageable aganstthe holding element to retain it in latched position, said bolt element and housing being adapted during closing movement of the closure to be brought between said holding element and bearing member with sad housing engaging the rst bearing member, meansV urging the bolt elementi ,againstV the holding ele'- ment in its said latched position, one of said elei 3,r A,latch,.mechanism.applicabletoastationarit. Support and a. .movable closure, comprising a.;

ments novias o. esta Surface engageable by 'the element toward the bolt s o that the holding element. and. bolt. .intereneaee in latched relation. and` the bolt thrust against the holding element pressessaid housing against the bearing member, means.- maintaining the. holding element in Said latched position, means for releasing Said holdini eiementto permit opening movement of the l2.10-v

sure, an arm movablewith said holding element and engageable upon release thereof againstsgid housing to urge said closure in an opening diretQILiid. a .Spiig S0. urging the armi 5. AKlatch mechanism applicable to a stationary meinber and a movable closure, comprising a bolt structure including a swinging bolt element to` beV carried by the stationary member, a pivotally movable holding element to be carried by the closure, means mounting said bolt element in theA path of the holding element so that the holding element deflects and moves from the forward sfider of the bolt element in latched relation therewith as the door fully closes, retaining meansinitially maintaining said holding element inA offset relation to the bolt in, open condition of the closure, a movable member carried by the closure and operable by virtue of closing movement; of saidclosure to engage said bolt struc,- ture to overcome said retaining means and swing saidl holding element toward the bolt so that the holding element and bolt interengage in said latched relation, means thrusting the bolt element against the holding element, one of said elements having al cam surface engageable by the other element in said latched relation of the elements and acting in response to the thrust of the bolt against the holding` element to effect take-up movement o f the closure toward the stationary member, clogging means maintaining the holding element in latched position, and means for; animatingA said clogging means to release the holding element to permit opening movement oi.' theclosure.

6. A latch mechanism applicable to a stationary member and a movable closure, comprising a swinging bolt element and housing containing the bolt to be. carried by the stationary member, a pivotally movable holding element to be carried by the closure and engageable against the bolt element, retaining means initially maintaining said holding element in offset relation to the bolt in open condition of the closure, means operable by gages and is deflected by the holding element and thereafter is thrust into a position of latched engagement therewith, a spring thrusting the bolt element against the holding element and acting to yieldingly resist said deflection thereof and to effect said movement into latched engagement, one of said elementshaving a cam surface engageable by the otherelement in said position of latched engagement and acting in response to the thrust of the'bolt against the holding element to effect take-up movement ofthe closure towardthe stationary member, dogging means maintaining the holding element in latched position, and means for actuating said clogging means to release the holding element to permit opening movement of the closure.

7. A latch mechanism applicable to a stationary member and a movable closure, comprising a bolt structure including a swinging bolt element to be carried by the stationary member, a 'pivotally movable holding element to be carried by the olonne, retaining means initially maintaining said holding' lnint iii offset relation to the bolt iii open oonditio of the closure, res inli-ldia pivoted arm iiiovable wit-ii and relative to said holding element and operable iyiigagent With said bolt structure diin closigmo'vmiit of 'said clos'ur to verom said retaining iifie'aii-s' and swingoaio holding element toward the boit so that tile holding' element andboit iiiteiongage in latched relation, a 'spring oonstritly thrusting the b olt lrrerlt against thelilding leiiiet v'vl'ien tlieelenients are in said latched relation, one of s id elements having a cani surface engaged by the other element in `said latched relation ofthe lments and acting in fSiSe to the thrust of the bolt against trie holding element to eireot take-up oldi/ement of the closure toward the stahrber, dgging means maintaining the ijlding eleeriti latched position, and means foratutin said logging means to release tli .holdingv eliiie'rit to periiiit opening movement of the closure;

A laten ineoliaiiisin anpii'oable to a stationaryn'inbi arid a movable closure, comprising a housing to be carried by said stationary iiimber, 'swinging bolt element contained Within and projecting from the housing, a holding element to be carried by the closure and movable about a pivot, retaining means initially maintaining said holding element in oiset relation to the bolt in open condition of the closure, means including an arm movable about said pivot with and relative to said holding element and engageable with said holding element and housing during closing movement of the closure to overcome said retaining .means and swing said holding element toward the bolt so that the holding element engages and overrides the bolt to a nal position of latched engagement therewith, means constantly thrusting the bolt element against the holding element in their latched condition, one of said elements having a cam surface engaged by the other element in their latched condition and acting in response to the thrust of the bolt against the holding element -to elect take-up movement of the closure toward the stationary member, dogging means maintaining the holding element in latched position, and means for actuating said dogging means to release l0 the holding element to permit opening movement of the closure.

9. A latch mechanism applicable to a stationary member and a movable closure, comprising a housing to be carried by said stationary member, a

swinging bolt element contained within and projecting from the housing, a holding element to be carried by the closure and movable about a pivot, retaining means initially maintaining said holding element in offset relation to the bolt in open condition of the closure, means including an ariii lovbl about said pivot with and relative to said iioidiiig element and engagoable with said holding elementaiid housing during closing inovenient of tbe' closure to overcome said retaining ineens and swing said homing element toward the Bolt- S'o that the holding elementngages and overrides tnebolt to a final position of latched ergageiiient therewith, irieans constantly thruSt-f' ing' the; bolt leirent against the' holding element iii-y tliei latched condition, one of s ai'd elements having' a cam Surface engaged by the other element in their latched ooriditiori and acting in refI spense to the thrust of the bolt against the hold; ing element to elieot takeh-up iiioveiiientof the closure toward the stationary member, (logging moans maintaining the holding element latoned position, means for aotuatingsaid ddggiijlg' I'IeanS to release the holding element to per'n'iit opening movement of the closure, and aspring urging said arm againstsaid housing to thrust the clos# re open upon release of said -lding element.

Without/IAR; A.. NDTER,

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